El Totumo mud volcano tour from Cartagena with beach and lunch

You won't sink in the mud, no matter how deep you go.

A full-day private tour from Cartagena takes you to El Totumo, Colombia's smallest volcano, where you bathe in thick medicinal mud that keeps you afloat, then rinse off in the swamp below. Afterward, the tour moves to Manzanillo beach for swimming and a lunch of fried fish, coconut rice and plantain crisps. A guide in English or Spanish leads the way. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Mud bath and beach day with lunch

• Travel one hour to Totumo Volcano
• Climb stairs to volcano top
• Enter and relax in mud crater
• Wash mud off in Totumo swamp
• Travel to Manzanillo town
• Enjoy typical lunch with fish and sides
• Relax and enjoy Manzanillo beach
• Return to Cartagena and hotel

The experience

El Totumo sits an hour outside Cartagena. Locals maintain the volcano and its simple infrastructure, guiding you up the stairs to the crater rim where you can see the swamp landscape spread below. The mud itself is the draw: it's warm, thick enough that you float without effort, and the locals say it has medicinal properties. You soak in it, relax in the heat, then walk down to the swamp water to wash it off. A straightforward rhythm that takes up the first part of the day.

After El Totumo, the tour heads to Manzanillo, a beach town on the way back toward Cartagena's center. Lunch is a typical Caribbean spread: fried or stewed fish, rice cooked with coconut, salad, and patacones, the crunchy fried plantain that shows up on most menus here. You eat, then have the rest of the afternoon free to swim and sit in the ocean before the drive back to your hotel.

This is a private tour, so the pace and stops are yours alone. The guide speaks English or Spanish and will call the day before to check if you have questions or need anything arranged. All-risk insurance is included, and the tour suits any fitness level. The mud volcano has no climbing involved, and Manzanillo is a beach, so there's no physical demand.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel and back.
• entry to El Totumo volcano.
• lunch at Manzanillo with fish, coconut rice and plantain.
• a guide in English or Spanish.
• all-risk insurance.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 12:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (5 to 80 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Gran Colombia Tours

Is this one for you?The full day means you leave early and return in the late afternoon, so it works best if you have nothing else scheduled. If you want to explore Cartagena's old city or do another activity the same day, this tour takes up most of your daylight hours.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

How far is El Totumo from Cartagena, and how long does it take to get there?

El Totumo is one hour away from Cartagena by car. The drive is part of the full-day itinerary, and the tour includes private transportation both ways.

What exactly happens when you get in the mud at El Totumo?

The mud is so thick that you float without sinking, even if you lie back. You can relax in the warm mud for as long as you want, then walk down to the swamp water nearby to rinse off completely.

What's included in the lunch at Manzanillo?

Lunch is a typical Caribbean meal: fried or stewed fish, rice with coconut, salad, and patacones, which are crispy fried green plantain slices. The meal is included in the tour price.

Can I swim at Manzanillo beach, or is it just a lunch stop?

Manzanillo is both. After lunch, you have the rest of the afternoon to swim and enjoy the ocean before heading back to Cartagena and your hotel.